Provenance: The Toledo chapter of the National Organization for Women donated its records to the Ward M. Canaday Center in 1986, 1989, 1995, and 2010.Access: open

Related Collections:

Collection Summary:Collection contains records of the local, state, and national chapters and includes meeting minutes; newsletters and other publications; bylaws; and annual conference programs. Subjects include job discrimination; affirmative action; ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment; Title IX compliance; and the Toledo group's association with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 544.

Copyright: As copies of Federal records, copyright probably does not apply to entries in this volume. The original application files are part of Record Group 15, Records of the Veterans Administration, in the National Archives. Researchers bear full legal responsiblity for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code. The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.

Completed by: Denise D. Green, February 1987. Additions by Barbara A. Shirk, August 1989 and July 1995. Addition by Zachary Dehm, March and April 2010. Revised by Tamara Jones, February 2013; last updated: June, 2014

Introduction

Founded in 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest women's rights organization in the U.S. NOW reported 260,000 members in nine regional chapters, 50 state chapters and over 800 local chapters in 1986. (Encyclopedia of Associations 1987, v.1, p. 1456). NOW seeks full equality for women in all areas of American society; especially in politics, education and business.

The Greater Toledo Chapter of NOW has been a vocal, effective force in Northwest Ohio politics, industry and culture since 1972. The Toledo NOW records provide extensive evidence of chapter achievements, interests and activities.

There are no restrictions on the use of, or access to, this collection.

Organizational History

1972, July

Toledo, Ohio, Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) founded

1973

Toledo NOW Participated in campaign for Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratification in Ohio

1974

Continued campaigning for National ERA ratification; hosted Ohio NOW annual convention in Toledo, Ohio

1976

Participated in Southwyck Charity Bazaar and Old West End Festival; continued campaigning for ERA and reproductive rights of women

Joined with other NOW chapters at rally against Akron, Ohio ordinance regulating abortion clinics and in ERA rallies and ratification extension campaign. Toledo NOW hosted Ohio NOW annual convention

1979

Led campaign against Toledo city Maternal Health ordinance; sponsored ERA "walkathon" and series of consciousness-raising groups

1980

Labor Task Force formed to coordinate Toledo NOW helping with job discrimination complaints; continued anti-Maternal Health Ordinance and pro-ERA campaigns

1981

Joined nationwide "Stop Human Life Amendment Campaign;" held final Toledo ERA rally and walkathon; continued consciousness-raising groups

1982

Supported candidacies of Marcy Kaptur and Richard Celeste

1983

Supported Linda Furney's campaign for city council

Scope and Content Note

The collection is arranged in three series. Series one is Toledo NOW records of monthly meetings, rallies, task forces, a University of Toledo student NOW group, social events, annual political activities, the chapter newsletter and relations with Toledo area women's organizations. A substantial part of the records document Toledo NOW campaigns for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA); for Title IX compliance; and Toledo NOW's association with American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 544.

Series two consists of Ohio and regional NOW materials, including minutes, annual conference programs, newsletters, legislative lobbying, pro-choice and pro-ERA materials. Series three is national NOW materials, including nationwide bylaws; national conference programs; task force activities; boycotts; lobbying and extensive abortion rights; job discrimination; affirmative action; and ERA campaign literature.

The Toledo NOW records primarily date from 1972 to 2004, with some older and/or undated material. These records should prove to be a valuable resource for research into women's rights and politics in Northwestern Ohio.

Folder List

1

Toledo Chapter

75th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

1

Correspondence, printed material, statements

2

Photographs

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (A.F.S.C.M.E.), Local 544

3

Annual Reports, 1976-1977

4

Constitution

Correspondence, 1976-1977

5

Incoming

6

Outgoing

7

Executive Board minutes, 1973-1978

8

Membership meeting and Steward's Council minutes, 1973-1977

9

Newsletter, 1976-1977

10

A.F.S.C.M.E., A.F.L.-C.I.O., Ohio P.E.O.P.L.E. Convention, 1975

11

Awards and Proclamations

12

Bylaws

Campaign in support of ERA

General

13

1972-1977

14

1978-1980

15

ERA Awareness Week, Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 1981

Marches and rallies

16

Countdown rally for ERA ratification, June 30, 1981

17

National ERA march, July 9, 1978

18

National March for Women's Equality/Women's Lives, March 9, 1986; April 9, 1989

19

National NOW-ERA walk, Aug. 23, 1980

20

Toledo Walkathon for ERA, Sept. 24, 1977

21

Toledo Walkathon for ERA, Sept. 26, 1981

22

Petition campaign

23

Statement on failure of ERA, June 30, 1982

Candidates Night

24

1973

25

1974

26

1975

27

1977

28

City Council candidates survey, 1983

Clippings

29

1980s

30

1990s

31

2000s

32

Undated

Correspondence

33

1973

34

1974

35

1975

36

1976-1977

37

1978

38

1979

39

1982-1989

40

1987-1989, 1992, 1995

41

1993-1995

42

Divorce Equity, Inc., Cleveland Heights, Ohio

43

Essay Contest, 1990-1993

44

How to run a meeting or conference

45

League of Women Voters of Toledo-Lucas County

46

Lists of Suffragists, Suffragettes, Voters, and Others

47

Lysistrata Project, 3/3/03

48

Magazines

49

Male Chauvinist Pig Award

50

Membership survey, 1980

2

Minutes (both general and board meeting minutes)

1

1973

2

1974

3

1975

4

1976

5

1978-1979

6

1980

7

1981-1982

8

1983-1984

9

1995

Miscellaneous artifacts

10

Bumper stickers, buttons, pins

11

Cartoon strip, post card, ribbon, "A Call to Action" (VHS)

12

Scrapbook (folder also contains notes)

13

National and local press releases, 1974-1984

14

New members and membership lists, 1975-1983

15

New members meeting, 1978-86 (includes overview of Toledo NOW history)